WISH North East: Progress Under Pressure - a view of Board Diversity

WISH North East Online Event

Progress Under Pressure - a view of Board

Date: Thursday 22nd May

Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Via: Zoom

This event is FREE for all WISH members | £25 + VAT for non members.

Kindly sponsored by: Castle Peak Group

We're excited to be joined by James Carss from Castle Peak Group for this lunch and learn, online event.

A new paper from Castle Peak, an executive search firm specialising in diversity and inclusion, finds although the housing sector has made great strides on gender and ethnicity diversity, organisations are less certain on disability or socio-economic background.

The research, titled Progress Under Pressure, speaks in-depth to more than a dozen housing sector leaders, and finds confidence that many of the programmes and initiatives aimed at growing diversity in senior roles are working, but an acknowledgement that there's still significant work to do to ensure housing leadership is representative across all characteristics.

Although the research was primarily focused on the North East. We welcome members nationally as there is learning to be taken for all from this session.

Our Speaker

James Carss - Chief executive Officer at Castle Peak Group

James Carss is the founder and CEO of Castle Peak Group, an executive search firm with a difference. With over 20 years in executive recruitment across the UK, Asia, and North America, James has always challenged the norm. His journey began in the North East, where he stood up for a friend facing racial prejudice. This experience sparked a lifelong commitment to challenging inequality.

After making his mark with top firms in London and leading teams in Hong Kong, James returned to the UK with a mission. In January 2024, he founded Castle Peak Group to offer executive search services that genuinely prioritise diversity, inclusion, and ethical leadership.

James isn’t just a top corporate scout; he’s dedicated to building more inclusive workplaces and mentoring future leaders. A lifelong martial artist and expert in Tai Chi Chuan, James embodies discipline, respect, and continuous learning. As a father of three, his commitment to fairness is personal, making him a sought-after speaker on diversity-driven business practices.